The Bible forbids lying throughout both Old and New Scriptures, identifying it as fundamentally incompatible with God’s character of truth. Exodus 20:16 prohibits bearing false witness in the Ten Commandments, while Ephesians 4:25 urges believers to speak truthfully. Proverbs 12:22 calls lying lips an abomination to the Lord, and Revelation 21:8 warns of severe eternal consequences for persistent dishonesty. John 8:44 connects deception to Satan himself, contrasting it with God’s nature. The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 illustrates these consequences, showing how dishonesty damages relationships with both people and God. Understanding these passages reveals the deeper spiritual principles at stake.
Key Takeaways
- The Bible explicitly forbids lying in the Ten Commandments and calls it an abomination to God.
- Lying is associated with Satan, described as “the father of lies” in John 8:44.
- Scripture warns that persistent liars face severe judgment, including eternal separation from God.
- Biblical examples like Ananias and Sapphira demonstrate serious consequences for deceit against God.
- Truthfulness reflects spiritual health and maintains covenant faithfulness with God and others.
Biblical Commands and Prohibitions Against Lying
The Bible addresses lying through direct commands, categorical prohibitions, and severe warnings that appear across both Old and New scriptures. The New Testament was composed in Koine Greek, the common dialect of the Roman Empire.
Exodus 20:16 includes “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” among the Ten Commandments, while Leviticus 19:11 explicitly forbids lying to one another.
New Testament passages continue this theme: Colossians 3:9 instructs believers to abandon deceit as part of their former life, and Ephesians 4:25 commands truthfulness among community members.
Proverbs 6:16–19 lists “a lying tongue” among seven abominations to God.
Revelation 21:8 places “all liars” alongside murderers in the lake of fire, demonstrating the gravity Scripture assigns to dishonesty. John 8:44 identifies Satan as the father of lies, establishing that lying aligns with Satan’s character rather than God’s truth.
Proverbs 12:22 declares that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, while He delights in those who deal truthfully.
These passages establish lying as fundamentally incompatible with covenant faithfulness.
The Spiritual Consequences of Dishonesty and God’s Call to Truthfulness
While the biblical commands against lying establish clear moral boundaries, Scripture also reveals the deeper spiritual damage that dishonesty inflicts on those who practice it. Scholars note the Bible was composed by diverse authorship across many centuries, which adds weight to its consistent call to truth. Proverbs 12:22 states that lying lips are detestable to the Lord, indicating that deception creates a barrier between individuals and God, who embodies truth itself.
Dishonesty doesn’t just break human trust—it creates a spiritual barrier between us and the God of truth.
John 8:44 identifies Satan as the “father of lies,” suggesting that dishonesty aligns people with purposes opposed to God’s kingdom.
The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 demonstrates this reality, as Peter declares their deception was not merely against others but against God himself.
Revelation 21:8 warns that persistent liars face eternal separation from God, while Proverbs 19:9 affirms that false witnesses will not escape judgment. Beyond these eternal consequences, lying erodes the trust foundational for relationships, causing broken connections, social isolation, and lasting damage to one’s reputation. Matthew 15:18-20 teaches that words originate from the heart’s condition, revealing that outward speech reflects the inner purity or corruption of a person’s spiritual state.
